OPERATION RECOVERY 2007

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As we did following the 1993 fire, The Malibu Times is offering this free bulletin board for fire victims and those wanting to help. This page will be updated as new information becomes available. The latest version before The Times goes to print will appear in the print edition. Please send your announcements and event listings to Jonathan Friedman through e-mail at jf@malibutimes.com. Information can also be sent via fax to 310.456.8986 or by calling Jonathan at 310.456.5507 ext. 105.

The Greater Malibu Disaster Recovery Project, or Gumdrop, is available to assist those who have been affected by the fire and who have not or will not qualify for assistance from insurance and/or FEMA and/or the other more conventional helpers for those in need. Services and financial aid are offered to all residents of the greater Malibu area, regardless of whether they live within the city limits. The organization is actively seeking cash donations in all amounts. Donations should be made payable to Greater Malibu Disaster Recovery Project and mailed to GMDRP, P.O. Box 6321, Malibu, CA 90264-6321. Donations are income tax deductible and a receipt for the full amount of the cash donation will be furnished. To contact Gumdrop, call 310.456.2489 ext. 301. A fax number and e-mail will be available shortly.

A Local Assistance Center is being set up at Bluffs Park and will be in operation beginning Tuesday at 7 a.m. It will operate Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m, Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. The center will remain open until Dec. 7

Owners of fire damaged/destroyed structures within city limits should contact city of Malibu staff (310.456.2489 x241) to confirm the extent of their loss and to obtain a permit (no charge) for fire clean-up. To find out about the status of your home in the Malibu area, you can call the Los Angeles County Fire Department at 323.881.2411. The city is providing information on the rebuilding process at this link: http://www.malibu-ca.gov/index.cfm?fuseaction=detail&navid=256&cid=11428.

Owners of property in the unincorporated area of Los Angeles County should call 818.880.9416. Staff in that office can provide information regarding Red Cross centers and other available assistance.

If you would like to offer resources to fire victims or if you are a fire victim in need of resources, contact the Red Cross at 866.GET.INFO (438.4636). Donations can be made by calling 800.RED.CROSS (733.2767). For bulk donations, call 800.750.2858. The Red Cross Web site is www.redcross.org. The Red Cross Safe and Well List can be found at www.disastersafe.redcross.org.

The Malibu Post Office is open today and mail is being delivered. Residents who have lost their homes to the wildfire can pick up their mail at the Point Dume Post Office, located at 29160 Heathercliff Road. Residents are asked to bring proper identification to obtain their mail. The post office is open Monday through Friday from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Allstate Insurance has set up its disaster recovery team at Bluffs Park. Farmers Insurance has its location on the eastbound side of Pacific Coast Highway next to the Malibu High School Christmas Tree Lot.

For emergency assistance with lost or found animals or other animal related issues, call the Los Angeles County Department of Animal Care & Control at 818.991.6384. For general questions, call 818.991.0071. The Web site is www.animalcare.lacounty.gov. Visit or contact the local command center or disaster relief center to find out what agency is rescuing animals from your neighborhood. Normally, the county or city animal control agency will be responsible for retrieving stranded animals. Call (888) 738.7911 or visit www.pets911.com to find the phone numbers and locations of animal shelters or agencies nearby, go to www.petfinder.com/disaster. The site updates statistics and contact information for animal shelters and rescued pets. Those willing to provide a temporary home for a displaced pet should call 866.654.4732

Four months free storage, including safety deposit boxes, is being offered by Jay Sundher, a 30-year resident of Malibu and owner of Hollywood Storage Center of Thousand Oaks. He is also offering use of the conference room, copier and fax machine for victims. The storage facility is located at 3425 Old Conejo Road in Thousand Oaks. For more information, call 805.214.1066.

A home with reasonable rent is needed for a single mother of three whose home was destroyed in Latigo Canyon. Her insurance does not cover temporary housing during the rebuilding of her home. Anybody who can help should call insurance agent Wendy Baker at 310.924.1249

Consumers can verify a contractor’s license status at the Contractors State License Board’s Web site, www.cslb.ca.gov or through its telephone system at 800.321.CSLB (2752). Find out if the contractor’s license is active and in the right classification for the work to be done. Consumers can also see if there are any legal complaints against the contractor, if the business name and address are correct and if there is workers’ compensation insurance coverage for employees.

The CSLB has also activated its Disaster Hotline, which is available Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 800.962.1125.

The Artifac Tree is helping fire victims. Donations can be made to thrift shop founded in 1973 by Honey Coatsworth following a fire that year. The Artifac Tree is offering a half-price sale from Dec. 3 through Dec. 7 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The shop located at 3728 1/2 Cross Creek Road. The phone number is 310.456.1068.

Gift certificates from clothing stores will be collected at the Boys & Girls Club fashion show at The Club on Friday. The Club is located at 30215 Morning View Drive on the Malibu High School campus. The event begins at 7 p.m. For more information, call 310.457.1400